Hostaged policeman in Taguig missing?

MANILA, Philippines - The Taguig police has launched a search for the missing policeman who was tagged as an alleged hostage victim inside an apartelle in Barangay Western Bicutan two days ago.

Senior Superintendent Camilo Pancratius Cascolan, Taguig police chief, said they are digging deeper in their investigation of the alleged hostage-taking where Police Officer 2 Jamaron Sandag, 32, a member of the NAIA Terminal Aviation Security Group, is being pointed to as the victim.

The police at about 4:40 p.m. Wednesday received a call about Sandag allegedly being held hostage by a group of armed men in a room at the Taguig Plaza Apartelle at the Veterans Center in Western Bicutan. A nephew of Sandag, Sharif, told policemen that his uncle was allegedly being held hostage by seven men. He identified the hostage-takers as Gamar Janihim, Salim Janihim, Ganim Wadja, P01 Jukarno Adjud, P01 Said Wajid, a certain P02 Manzano and an unidentified police inspector.

Shakir alerted Sandag’s wife, Niña, about what he witnessed prompting them to seek for police help. Niña alleged that the suspects could be envious of her husband’s achievements, adding that the latter is a Medal of Valor Awardee.

Sandag earned the prestigious award after he fought it out with at least 100 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Abu Sayyaf who attacked a municipal hall and police station of Siocon in 2003.

Cascolan said that elements of their Special Weapons and Tactics team searched and inspected all rooms in the six-storey apartelle but failed to locate Sandag and his alleged hostage-takers.

Upon questioning, security guards manning the two entry and exit points of the apartelle said they did not see anyone being forcibly taken out of the building that day. They were allegedly not aware of any commotion happening within the building.

“We are gathering and evaluating evidence that may shed light on this case. Teams have been mobilized to search for Sandag who, according to his wife is now missing and could be dead based on a text message she received,” Cascolan said.

Meanwhile, Taguig Mayor Sigfrido Tiñga directed Cascolan to thoroughly investigate the case which may have reportedly turned into a case of abduction.